Just as we do every year, we’ve had many collectors ask how they can get involved in the Panini America Black Friday phenomenon if there are no participating brick-and-mortar hobby shops in their area. Well, just like we do every year, we’ve got you covered. Starting now and until supplies last, collectors who purchase selected products on iCollectPanini.com will receive the equivalent number of 2013 Black Friday packs with their order.

The only problem I have this year is Hometown Heroes being $120. I just can’t put my money to a product that offers a chance to get Johnny Ray, Tony Pena,and Paul Lo Duca as my three hits. I like the idea of getting some stuff of guys I grow up with, but no kid or young collector would touch this stuff because they don’t know who some of these players are. And the fact on ebay the same box in selling below $60. Good idea but way over priced for that checklist.

It’s really sad Tracy but someone in Illinois has AGAIN littered eBay with tons of Black Friday packs well in advance. You should seriously consider hiring someone to pinpoint which shops are abusing this program. Same thing happens every year. My shop has his packs today and he specifically told me to come back Friday if I wanted any. I wish all shops did that.

Agreed. It is bad to see them on a few days before Black Friday (especially in bulk). I know I’ve visited at least one store in the past on the list that year that “had no idea”. Needless to say my money wasn’t spent there that Black Friday morning.

Hello, I just noticed that there is a seller on Ebay “TWcards” that has 3 lots of 50 packs of Black Friday packs available! So, he got 150 packs and put them on Ebay! Please check that out, how are customers supposed to get them when half the packs are on Ebay?

The only way to secure that they do not get onto the secondary market is to have it exclusive to Panini online orders, but that is a slap in the face of the honest dealers. Panini needs to serious limit the list down even more of who has the right to give out their promo packs. Not just black friday but all promo packs.

I honestly have had a mixed bag with these packs at the various LCS I’ve visited the last few years for Father’s Day and/or Black Friday.

Orders from the panini store have been great, but they are delayed (especially if you like free shipping-like me) in arriving. Not a complaint, just the way it is. I’ll take a delay to save on shipping costs. I always feel like I can trust what I am getting from panini.com, as I have gotten an auto or two, material cards, parallels, etc., and a good mix of regular cards with my orders.

All of the following stories are from stores listed on the final update of participating stores thru the Knight’s Lance blog and combine stories from Father’s day 2013 as well as Black Friday 2012 and 2013 (so far)

I visited a shop in my travels last Fathers day who “did not get their shipment of packs” in time. They offered me a discount on the packs and supplies I did end up buying.

A hometown card shop that I’ve been buying from for almost 30 years now, “did not get their shipment of packs” in time.

An LCS last year “did not know anything about it”. That same LCS this year got them, but it wasn’t worth the time as they were handing out only 1-2 packs per $100-$150 box bought and were very restrictive as to which boxes were eligible.

It isn’t all bad news stories though:

Last year a LCS had reasonable pack allotments per purchase, the packs were not cherry-picked (some fat packs were included), and they were randomly assigned at purchase. Unfortunately they were not participating this year. That was what Panini had in mind when they issue these packs to stores.

Another store got packs but didn’t know much about them (they don’t deal primarily in sports cards (although they do have some non-sport cards) as “their distributor signed them up”. Bought some stuff from them and got some packs, so it worked out well.

1st and foremost, I think we need to thank Panini for even offering his promo. Despite inconsistencies and problems here and there it still is a great promo and a way to drive business to LCS at a time of the year when they could use the business.

2ndly, I think it disturbs a lot of us to see mega lots of packs as well as numerous high-end singles on ebay and the like 3-4-5 days before Black Friday. I know some stores open on Thanksgiving night, some run promo games and such on Wednesday night as well, but in general seeing lots of 25-50-100 packs on sale many days in advance of black Friday is disappointing.